Wedding Showcase Event Unveils Heritage Center Renovations

Posted September 20, 2023

As one of the most well known buildings in Vero Beach, the Heritage Center recently hosted a Wedding Showcase, where breathtaking renovations were unveiled for vendors and visitors alike. The list of vendors at the event read like a one-stop shopping list for anyone making wedding arrangements in Indian River County, which was much to the happiness of engaged couples who attended. Among the vendor services at the event were companies that specialize in décor and tabletops, lighting, music, jewelry, photos, catering, and desserts for weddings.

As guests entered the Heritage Center, they were greeted with airy, white drapery that framed rooms already impressive in size, while vendors located both inside and outside of the building offered eager smiles and samples to prospective clients. In areas buzzing with guest activity and photo ops, it was evident that the Heritage Center’s much-anticipated renovation did not disappoint anyone. In fact, it was quite the opposite, as the elegant space instantly proposed itself as an attractive venue option in Indian River County for a wide range of special events.

From its humble beginnings as Vero Beach’s first community building, to its use as a Servicemen’s Center during WWII, and one-time home to the City’s Recreation Department years later, the Heritage Center has always held a special place in people’s hearts. So much so, that even after a newer community building was built but ultimately fell into “disuse and disrepair,” concerned citizens fought to save it—and save it they did.

The relationship between Vero Beach and the Heritage Center goes back a long way, but it was finally made legal with a full restoration of the Heritage Center in 1993 and its subsequent placement on the National Register of Historic Places. If the response to the latest renovations revealed at the Wedding Showcase is any indication of the future for Vero Beach and the Heritage Center, it was clear to see the honeymoon isn’t over yet.

When the event began, Executive Director for the Heritage Center and Citrus Museum, Robyn Berry, gave heartfelt thanks to all of the staff, volunteers, and vendors who helped make the event possible. A few visitors found themselves just as teary-eyed as Berry, who was briefly overcome with emotion as she expressed her gratitude for the help, love, and respect she received throughout the renovation process.

As bridal gown and tuxedo models circulated from room to room, guests easily fell in love with all-things wedding-related as they patiently waited at vendor tables for samples, business cards, and brochures. After collecting their desired information, many guests returned to a room with china-laden tables to enjoy various prepared samples from Wild Thyme Catering, as a harpist and flutist played expertly nearby. In another room, set up with rows of chairs in front of a stage, Brandon Rivera of DJ Bodega played music as guests lined up to sample dessert options from M’s Sweets N’ Treats, creator of an award-winning bourbon bacon brownie.

Many visitors to the Heritage Center event ultimately made their way to an outside area, enthusiastic to take pictures of “Blossom,” a 1965 classic 23-window Volkswagen bus owned by Click & Shutter Photo Bus. The one-of-a-kind photo booth accommodates weddings, corporate events, and parties across the Treasure Coast. As the afternoon heat continued, many of Blossom’s fans made their way to the Kona Ice truck for tasty, ice-cold refreshments.

For many residents in Vero Beach and Indian River County, the Heritage Center is more than just a well-recognized historic building. It’s a location referenced when giving directions, meeting friends or attending business-related events. But now, thanks to its newly renovated space and refreshed décor, the Heritage Center has another reason it may remain well known in the community—as a soon-to-be, in-demand special event venue location—which is sure to continue its established notoriety well into the future.

Photo courtesy of Brenda Silva

Brenda Silva

Brenda is a contributing writer located in Vero Beach who has written about the floral industry and weddings for many local and national publications.